JPLA Church Challenge

In Honor of Orphan Sunday

October 27 – November 10, 2019

Register below by October 26, 2019
Review the 25 Participation Ideas
Report out how you will participate

This year, International Orphan Sunday is November 10th. Since 2009, this is a day where Christians around the world have stood together on behalf of the orphan and the vulnerable.

James Project of Latin America invites you to participate in the JPLA Church Challenge in honor of Orphan Sunday. JPLA Church Challenge celebrates foremost God’s deep love for the fatherless…and for each of us as well. From that wellspring, each local activity seeks to inspire and equip for action!

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

James 1:27

The JPLA Church Challenge encourages you, your family, and your church to:

Get Inspired

Create a plan

Promote your Observance
& Inspire Others

JPLA Church Challenge

IDEAS FOR ORPHAN SUNDAY

 

  1. Watch JPLA Church Challenge welcome video from Tiffany Applegate, JPLA Executive Director.
  2. Learn about the important work occurring in Guatemala through the efforts of the James Project.
  3. Show the JPLA Overview video during a church service, highlighting the work that is being done on behalf of women and children in Guatemala. View here.
  4. Create and/or distribute prayer cards for the women and children of JPLA. 
  5. Download the JPLA Orphan Sunday color sheet. Have your children’s classes complete the sheet and send them to the children at JPLA. You can mail them to: 5517 N. Farmer Brand Rd., #119, Ozark, MO 65721.
  6. Set aside time for prayer of the widows and children of Guatemala.
  7. Write letters or cards of encouragement to the house parents at Shadow of His Wing’s children’s home. Mail letters of encouragement to: 5517 N. Farmer Brand Rd., #119, Ozark, MO 65721.
  8. Plan a sermon for November 10, 2019, Orphan Sunday, to focus on orphans and widows.
  9. Plan a set of worship songs that reflect God’s heart for the JPLA community, include the church youth or children’s choir.
  10. Invite a JPLA missionary who has visited Guatemala on a mission trip to speak to your congregation or small groups.
  11. Plan a fundraiser to benefit the JPLA efforts.
  12. Take a love offering to benefit the James Project of Latin America.  Donations can be sent James Project International, PO Box 842210, Kansas City, MO 64184-2210  or donate electronically online. 
  13. Share the JPLA Overview Video online to educate about the James Project of Latin America.
  14. Fast, as a church, for the work of God in Guatemala and His healing and restoration for our precious children.
  15. Promote a trip to visit JPLA with your own church or partnering with another team. Contact Tiffany at tiffany@jamesproject.org for a list of teams and/or available weeks.
  16. Download the JPLA Bulletin insert, highlighting Orphan Sunday and your church’s commitment to caring for the least of these.
  17. Offer to be interviewed on local Christian radio station near the time of Orphan Sunday to share about JPLA and the work being done on behalf of ‘orphans and widows’.
  18. Submit the official JPLA Church Challenge Press Release to local publications in your area.
  19. Sponsor a JPLA child or set of house parents and/or challenge your congregations and life groups (small groups) to sponsor through JPLA.
  20. Send a video message to JPLA children and staff encouraging them in the Lord. This message can be an encouragement, skit, song or other creative idea.  Post your video to the JPLA Church Challenge Facebook page.
  21. Join the JPLA orphan prevention efforts and sponsor a Redeemed woman, helping her become independent and able to care for her family.
  22. Ask your congregation to post letters/videos of encouragement for our teachers and students at Freedom Evangelical School.
  23. Promote the JPLA Gift Catalog to your congregation and encourage them to go shopping to benefit the children in Guatemala.
  24. Share photos (memes) on your social media pages highlighting the work done through JPLA.
  25. Provide JPLA fliers to your congregation so they can share them in local coffee shops, bulletin boards, restaurants, grocery stores, etc.

Let us know how you are participating!